VWC improves to 4-0 with win over Maryland Bible

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- A 12-0 scoring spurt to start the second half provided Virginia Wesleyan College momentum the rest of the way as the No. 12 Marlins pinned an 80-56 loss on Maryland Bible College in Saturday's Roger Taylor Invitational hosted by North Carolina Wesleyan College.

MBC (0-2) gave the Marlins (4-0) all the competition they wanted in the second half, forcing outside shots defensively and finding ways to get inside offensively to keep pace in scoring. VWC, which hit only 39% from the field in the first half, still posted a 33-29 lead at the break.

But, the Marlins came back in the second with with a little more intensity and frustrated the Soliders' efforts to get the ball inside for scores. At the same time, VWC's offense began to click, starting with back-to-back triples from sophomores Chris Teasley (Newport News, Va./Menchville) and Tre' Ford (Falls Church, Va./J.E.B. Stuart) to help the Marlins open up a 39-29 lead in the first 52 seconds of the half.

The Marlins never let up after that and continued to build their lead, pushing out to a 60-36 lead with the help of three-pointers by Teasley and junior Ed Roberts (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek). Virginia Wesleyan enjoyed its largest lead at 70-40 after Roberts canned another triple with 5:14 remaining to be played. MBC never got closer than 22 points the rest of the way as VWC head coach Dave Macedo utilized his deep bench.

Sixteen Marlins played in the game. Teasley, who was named to the All-Classic team along with junior teammate Donald Vaughn (Woodbridge, Va./Dumfries Potomac), led VWC scoring with 18 points, connected on 5-of-7 triples.Chris Astorga (Suffolk, Va./Virginia Beach Cape Henry) added 13 points, hitting 5-of-8 shots, and Roberts finished with 12 points.

Virginia Wesleyan once again fared well from long range as the Marlins put up 36 triples and hit 14, including four from Roberts. MBC attempted nine and hit two. Quintin Harris led MBC with 19 points, connecting on 8-of-10 shots. Al Carr scored 14 points.